England coach gives Bellingham a break before Euro 2024

Gareth Southgate has allowed Bellingham to rest after winning the Champions League with Los Blancos to save his energy for the Euros in Germany.

Jude Bellingham has been granted a one-week leave before rejoining the England squad to prepare for Euro 2024. The Three Lions’ coach, Gareth Southgate, considers this break essential for the midfielder to regain his best physical condition after a long season with Real Madrid across various competitions. Bellingham provided an assist that helped the Spanish giants secure their 15th European championship.

Southgate stated that Bellingham’s absence would not affect the team, despite their upcoming friendly matches against Bosnia & Herzegovina on Tuesday and Iceland on Saturday: “It’s not the most important thing. The most important thing for Jude is to rest, recover, and we will benefit from that,” he said after the team’s training session.

“These are the constraints of international football,” he added. “We don’t have players as frequently as you do at a club to bond well. So, you have to figure out what’s most important. And at this moment, in my view for Jude, it’s time to physically and mentally recover and rest.”

After scoring 23 goals in his first season for Madrid across all competitions, Bellingham will carry a significant part of England’s lofty ambitions at the European Championship in Germany. “He’s had an incredible season, joining the biggest club in the world and performing as he has throughout the season is amazing for him,” Southgate said after the Champions League final. “Absolutely delighted for him to win against Dortmund and claim the title.”

When asked about Bellingham’s character, Southgate described him as down-to-earth and unpretentious: “You saw him with his family (after the Champions League win) and Bellingham’s parents must be very proud of him because he is just as he comes across in interviews; he’s very humble and honest in his interviews, that’s how he is every day, with anyone he interacts with, whether it’s our staff or the players on the team,” the coach explained.

“Bellingham has humility and understanding. I’m sure joining a big club like Real Madrid, he realizes the importance of earning respect from senior players like Toni Kroos or Luka Modric, but he also has the self-confidence to assert himself both in training and in matches. He knows what to do,” Southgate added.

Bellingham made his debut for England at 17 and has since earned 29 caps. The No. 5 midfielder is one of Europe’s top young talents and a key player for the Three Lions as they head into the Euro tournament, set to begin in mid-June.